There’s an Elizabethan monument in Stoke Newington with a Latin epitaph no one has ever translated. Until now. In 1581, a Latin epitaph was carved onto a monument inside St Mary’s Old Church. Written by someone who moved in Elizabethan poetic circles... The author’s name? Still anonymous. After 444 years. This talk offers the first public translation, explores the world of John Dudley (Lord of the Manor who died in 1580) and speculates on who might have written the most mysterious inscription in Hackney. Sunday 17 May · 1:00–1:50pm Chat’s Palace, E9 · £3 Tickets → link in bio Tag someone who loves a good historical mystery 👇 #history #historylovers #hackney #hackneylife #hackneyhistoryfestival

The Hackney Society’s Buildings at Risk Group held its monthly meeting last night. As usual the agenda was packed and diverse, the standout cases being the following: Naturally we talked at length about the Hackney Borough Disinfecting Station in Lower Clapton (pictures 1 & 2) following its inclusion in @the_victorian_society Top 10 Endangered Buildings list for 2026. This welcome spotlight might have got things moving forwards with securing a new future for the site — watch this space! We revisited the case of the Shrubland Road Evangelical (aka Sight of Life Eternal) Church on Shrubland Road (pic 3), reputedly the oldest surviving “tin tabernacle” in the country. It was sold into private ownership and has been inaccessible for a long time, and is currently being squatted, causing considerable concern locally. Good news this month came in the form of 26 Lower Clapton Road (pic 4), added to the @historicengland Heritage at Risk Register in 2025 but by the looks of it already well on its way to being restored. We also discussed what is and isn’t happening with the locally listed Johnstone Boathouse in Hackney Wick (pic 5, thanks to our roving reporter @susandoe170 ), rumoured to be in line for redevelopment although no such planning application has been registered for the site; and the former Hackney Chinese Community Services Centre on Ellingfort Road in London Fields (pic 6), the freehold for which has recently been put up for sale by Hackney Council. Lastly we considered the Somerford Grove Estate between Shacklewell and Stoke Newington, a relatively early council housing project by the important post-WW2 British architect Frederick Gibberd (pic 7). Despite its significance being recognised by the @c20society and others, Somerford Grove lacks any form of heritage protection, so we have resolved to find out why. At the very least we are keen to secure some form of formal recognition for the estate’s Festival of Britain award plaque (pic 8), given this year is the 75th anniversary of the festival and likewise the plaque. Interested by any/all of this? Email [email protected] with questions, new information, or to join our mailing list.

Great start to the @hackneyhistoryfest at The Print House Gallery & Dalston Curve Garden. This Place Then Exhibition by @mapeditions followed by an introduction to the festival and speakers for the upcoming programme. Follow @hackneyhistoryfest to join in on the walks, talks & tours 📹 @mediorite

Your guide to Hackney History Festival 11–17 May A week packed with talks, guided walks, tours and live events — from Hoxton Hall to the canals of Hackney, from prefabs in Clapton to the geology beneath your feet. Highlights this week: 🏛 Monday 11 — Hoxton Hall Tour with Dr Deborah Jeffries 🚢 Friday 15 — Canal Boat Trip + Old Firestation Open Event 🎤 Saturday 16 — 6 talks including Ghost Shop Signs, Hackney Suffragettes & A History of Hackney in Sound and Vision 🎯 Sunday 17 — Rock against Racism, LGBTQ+ history & the Hackney History Pub Quiz Tickets from £3 — some events free Full programme → link in bio Which talk would you most want to attend? 👇 #hackneyhistory #hackney #hackneyhistoryfestival #hackneylife #historylovers

A Victorian man in Hackney kept 13 parrots and 2 toucans — and invited them to breakfast🦜 This is the talk you didn’t know you needed. Shirley Hibberd’s extraordinary world of birds in 1860s Hackney — compared with the working-class East Londoners who kept canaries, finches and pigeons for generations after him. A joyful, unexpected piece of local history. Making a happy family: birdkeeping in Hackney and East London with Michael Guida Sunday 10 May · 10:00–10:50am @suttonhousent · £3 Tickets → link in bio Did anyone in your family keep birds? 👇 #hackney #hackneyhistoryfestival #hackneyhistory #londonevents #historylovers

Before screens, kids had toy theatres. Your children can see one — live. And it’s free. Pollock’s Toy Museum brings Dick Whittington and Cinderella to life using original coloured prints made in Hoxton Street from the 1850s onwards. Real performers, live music, tiny stage. 40 minutes of old-fashioned magic. Ages 3 and up — grown-ups very welcome too. Toy Theatre Shows with @pollockstoymuseum Sutton House @suttonhousent Friday 29 May Free 🕐 11:30am – 12:15pm 🕑 2:30pm – 3:15pm Reserve your spot → link in bio What’s your child’s favourite fairy tale? 👇 #history #hackney #hackneyhistory #pollocktoymuseum #londonwithkids

New 🗺️ exhibition opens tomorrow, Friday 1st May. “Hackney: This Place Then” Launch event in the evening at @bootstrapcharity @dalstongarden @dalston_cultural_quarter It’s the start of a month of @hackneyhistoryfest by the @hackney_society You need to book - link in bio

Growing with change 🌱 Hackney has long been a place where creativity and innovation take root 🪴 But as the area continues to evolve, how do we protect its culture and ensure young people grow with it, not get left behind?💡 Join us as we explore regeneration, identity, and opportunity around Hackney and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park👇 🌟 'Growing with Change: Young People & Regenerat­ion in Hackney' 🗓️ 5 May 2026 | 5:30-7:30pm 🎟️ Reserve your free ticket at hereeast.com/events

You can edit Wikipedia. Here’s how — free workshop, 2 May. Trainers from Wikimedia UK will show you everything: how Wikipedia works, why it matters, and how to make your first edit live on the day. We’re particularly focusing on adding women from Hackney’s history who still don’t have the pages they deserve. Saturday 2 May · 2:00–4:00pm Hackney Archives, E8 3BQ · Free Register → link in bio Bring a laptop if you can. Have you ever edited Wikipedia? 👇 #hackney #hackneylife #hackneyhistoryfestival #wikipedia #freeworkshop

This Saturday we’re at @hackneydepot , and we’re bringing everything! 📋 Free festival programmes 📚 Books about Hackney you won’t find anywhere else 🎟 Early info on May talks, walks & guided tours 💬 A chat about how you can get involved Come find us between the vintage stalls. We’ll be there both days. @go.east.vintage | Hackney Depot | Saturday 25 April | 10am–5pm ————————— Hackney History Festival · All May 2026 Tickets from £3 · link in bio Are you coming to the flea market this weekend? 👇 #hackney #hackneylife #vintage #hackneyhistoryfestival #havkneyhistory

This FREE workshop lets you do something English Heritage never will. Make your own tribute — for the neighbour, teacher or shopkeeper who actually changed your life. Drama. Storytelling. Art-making. You’ll leave with something handmade for someone you love. One day only💚 Local Legends Workshop Thursday 7 May · 3:00–5:00pm Hoxton Hall, N1 · Free Tickets → link in bio Who is your Local Legend? #hackneyhistory #hackney #freeevent #eastlondon #hackneyhistoryfestival

For the people, by the people! Earlier today, we were proud to unveil a plaque for cinema pioneer Clara Ludski at the Rio Cinema in Dalston. As part of the Hackney Society’s plaque programme, this recognises the women who helped shape the borough, and Clara’s role as founder of the Kingsland Empire (now our much loved Rio Cinema) makes her an essential part of Hackney’s cultural story. Dalston has long been a place for creativity, independence and new ideas. Clara’s legacy is part of that continuing story, reflected in the life of the Rio today, with the RIO FOREVER billboard currently overlooking Gillett Square. 50 years on, and still: for the people, by the people. #rioforever #hackney #dalston #heritage